All Business

For years, Republicans have been telling us tax cuts pay for themselves by promoting growth. If they believe what they say, why should they worry about paying for a one-year extension of the payroll tax holiday?

This year’s list of the worst toys is brought to you by plastics, those bright synthetic polymers that threaten to overtake the living rooms of middle-class parents. They can be classified into three categories: those that assault our senses, those that skank-ify our daughters, and those so bizarre they deserve a spot on late-night TV. Don’t be fooled. Many of these toys make great gifts, at least for someone else’s child, ideally someone who lives out of state. Here's my list of the Top 7 worst Christmas toys for 2011:

The decision to close a business can be one of the most painful experiences an entrepreneur can face. But if you learned from the experience and can take those lessons into your next business, that is success–not a failure.

Officially, the International Monetary Fund is slated to help ease Europe's debt problems. But 20 percent of the IMF's funding comes from the US and Britain, and more money will be needed for a European bailout.

Despite invasion of privacy accusations, Carrier IQ is only capable of recording the information that cell phone providers install on it. The US government itself is a far greater threat to citizens' privacy.

Stock market prices in Europe and much of Asia are buoyed as Merkel and Sarkozy meet in Paris to discuss closer political, economic union. But the stock market in China fall on its worsening economic outlook.

Bankruptcy of the commodities trading firm may include some $1.2 million missing from customers accounts. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses were cut off from the cash in their accounts when MF Global sought bankruptcy protection in October.